# Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee (*Bombus insularis*) The Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee is a special bee that doesn't make its own honey. Instead, it lays its eggs in the nests of other bumblebees, which is a bit sneaky but helps it survive! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Psithyrus_insularis.jpg&width=800) Photo: FSI, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Psithyrus_insularis.jpg) ## Appearance The Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee is typically dark-bodied, often with yellow hairs on its thorax and sometimes on its abdomen, which can also show reddish-brown at the tip. It lacks the shiny, smooth pollen baskets (corbiculae) found on other female bumblebees, and its fur is generally less dense. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Bombus ## Interesting facts - The cuckoo queen often fights and replaces the original queen of a host nest. - Their babies grow up in a 'borrowed' home, raised by another bumblebee species. - This bee never collects pollen for its young; host bees do all the hard work! - Unlike other female bumblebees, they don't create wax pots to store food. ## Special abilities - **Nest Usurper:** Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee can take over other bumblebee nests because it is a social parasite, laying its eggs for host workers to raise. - **Pollen-Free Forager:** Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee has no pollen baskets on its legs that helps them avoid the chore of collecting food for others. - **Scent Mimicry:** Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee can mimic the scent of its host colony because of special chemical signals, helping it avoid detection. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-32 mm - **Size:** 13-21 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 25 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult cuckoo bumble bees sip nectar from flowers for energy. - **Primary Foods:** thistle nectar, aster nectar, clover nectar, goldenrod nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** Mixed Bumble Bee (*Bombus mixtus*) — often takes over their nests - **Parasitizes:** [Black-tailed Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-tailed-bumble-bee) (*Bombus melanopygus*) — lays eggs in their colonies - **Eats:** Canada Thistle (*Cirsium arvense*) — drinks nectar for energy - **Eats:** [New England Aster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/new-england-aster) (*Symphyotrichum novae-angliae*) — sips nectar from flowers ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Parasitic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/parasitic): This trait describes organisms that live on or in a host organism, obtaining nutrients at the host's expense. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be gentle and calm around bees, and never try to touch or catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee's wingspan? 20-32 mm ### How big is Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee? 13-21 mm ### How long does Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee live? 30-365 days ### How fast can Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee fly? 25 km/h ### What does Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee eat? Adult cuckoo bumble bees sip nectar from flowers for energy. ### Where is Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee usually found? Grasslands ### How does Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cut-bank-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Menomonie Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/menomonie-downtown-historic-district) — Wisconsin, US · Historic District - [Mountain Home Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mountain-home-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Redstone Coke Oven Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/redstone-coke-oven-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Sumpter Valley Railway](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sumpter-valley-railway) — Oregon, US · Historic District [View all places to see Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/indiscriminate-cuckoo-bumble-bee) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/indiscriminate-cuckoo-bumble-bee)